Whether you are newly engaged or have had your ring for years, it is never too late to learn about the proper engagement ring care. To make sure your gemstones and setting stay in their original condition, make ring maintenance a part of your daily routine. Although jewels are forever, they require love and care.
Engagement Ring Wearing
Modern engagement rings, whether with diamonds or colour gemstones, usually have delicate and often fragile designs. That is why proper engagement ring care is important, and it starts from the wearing.
Make sure your ring fits well. It should not be big nither too tight. This refers to both comfort and security. If the engagement ring does not have a snug fit, it will spin around on your finger and slide off as you are washing your hands, for example. The spinning also leads to the ring hitting hard objects, which, in turn, can damage the stones and metal. To avoid such issues, you can simply have your ring resized. It is worth mentioning that jewellers often offer free resizing. However, they can charge a fee depending on the design of your band.
Another part of engagement ring care is not wearing your ring during physical activities. Whether you are exercising, grading or typing up, it is never a good idea to have your ring on. It is both not sanitary and secure. The prongs and the band can get caught on something and bend.
There are also other instances when you should take your ring off. It is never recommended to swim, bath or shower with the ring on as water contains different chemicals harmful to the lustre of the precious metals and the gemstones.
Remember that putting your engagement ring, as well as other jewellery, on should always be the last step when dressing. Residue from makeup, hairspray, perfume and body creams can damage your ring or make the stones look dull.
It is important to put your ring to rest when you go to bed. When you are sleeping, it is easy for the ring to get caught in your pyjamas, sheets, pillows and hair. Catching can cause the stones to loosen and fall out. Not to mention that putting your body weight on the ring can bend the prongs and the band itself.
Engagement Ring Cleaning
If you want your engagement ring to withstand the test of time, clean it once a week or at least once every two weeks. If you wait longer, the accumulated dirt can harden, and you might not be able to clean it at home using the simplest method to maintain a clean and sparkly jewel. Instead, you will have to take it to your jeweller for a professional cleaning using an ultrasonic cleaner, which is not always the best solution for precious gemstones.
To clean your engagement ring at home, add some mild dishwashing soap liquid to warm water. Stir the water and dish soap together using a spoon or your finger. Carefully place your gemstone in the liquid you have prepared and soak it for about 20-30 minutes. This will help to loosen any dirt.
After soaking, use a soft toothbrush to remove the dirt. Brush your ring gently not to loosen the prongs, paying particular attention to all sides and edges. Make sure you clean the lower part of the gem as well. The base of the mounting underneath the stone is where a lot of dirt builds up. Next, rinse out your engagement ring with clean water and dry it with a soft and lint-free cloth.
When storing your ring, keep it separated from other jewellery to protect them from being scratched. Similarly, you will want to protect your engagement ring from other pieces you have, meaning it is always a good idea to store it in an individual cloth bag or box.
Engagement Ring Inspection
Jewellery inspections are an important part of proper engagement ring care. Even if you follow all the tips mentioned above, it is highly recommended to have your ring professionally checked at least twice a year. This allows your jeweller to examine your engagement ring and ensure it is in flawless condition.
Such inspections usually consist of a prong check to ensure the setting has not loosened and the gemstones will not fall out. Also, the jeweller checks if the metal needs to be polished or rhodium-plated, as in the case of white gold. This special care is required to maintain a smooth and shiny surface.
Also, it is always a good idea to carefully inspect your ring at home once in a while, best using a loupe. Look at each prong from different angles and check if any of them are out of alignment. Once you notice cracked, broken or worn prongs, take your engagement ring to your jeweller to get them fixed.
Featured image: Konstantin Aksenov / Canva
